Leviathan eBook

For the Greek alphabet, I have simply substituted
the nearest ordinary letters that I can, and I have
used initial capitals for foreign language words.

Neither Thomas Hobbes nor his typesetters seem to
have had many inhibitions about spelling and punctuation.
I have tried to reproduce both exactly, with the exception
of the introduction of quotation marks.

In preparing the text, I have found that it has much
more meaning if I read it with sub-vocalization, or
aloud, rather than trying to read silently.
Hobbes’ use of emphasis and his eccentric punctuation
and construction seem then to work.

Edward White edwud@telus.net
Canada Day 2002

1651
Leviathan
by
Thomas Hobbes
leviathan
or
the matter, forme, & power
of A common-wealth
ecclesiastical
and
civill

By Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury.

Printed for Andrew Crooke, at the Green Dragon in
St. Paul’s Churchyard, 1651.

Tomymost HONOR’D friend
Mr. FrancisGodolphin
of Godolphin

HONOR’D SIR.

Your most worthy Brother Mr SidneyGodolphin,
when he lived, was pleas’d to think my studies
something, and otherwise to oblige me, as you know,
with reall testimonies of his good opinion, great in
themselves, and the greater for the worthinesse of
his person. For there is not any vertue that
disposeth a man, either to the service of God, or
to the service of his Country, to Civill Society,
or private Friendship, that did not manifestly appear
in his conversation, not as acquired by necessity,
or affected upon occasion, but inhaerent, and shining
in a generous constitution of his nature. Therefore
in honour and gratitude to him, and with devotion to
your selfe, I humbly Dedicate unto you this my discourse
of Common-wealth. I know not how the world will
receive it, nor how it may reflect on those that shall
seem to favour it. For in a way beset with those
that contend on one side for too great Liberty, and
on the other side for too much Authority, ’tis
hard to passe between the points of both unwounded.
But yet, me thinks, the endeavour to advance the Civill
Power, should not be by the Civill Power condemned;
nor private men, by reprehending it, declare they
think that Power too great. Besides, I speak
not of the men, but (in the Abstract) of the Seat
of Power, (like to those simple and unpartiall creatures
in the Roman Capitol, that with their noyse defended
those within it, not because they were they, but there)
offending none, I think, but those without, or such
within (if there be any such) as favour them.
That which perhaps may most offend, are certain Texts
of Holy Scripture, alledged by me to other purpose